What It is Like Onboard the Steam Ship Sudan (The REAL Dying on the Nile)

The mighty Nile has been the lifeblood of Egypt for the reason that starting of civilization, and guests in trendy occasions can cruise down it on the Steam Ship Sudan. Historical Egypt prospered alongside its fertile banks, surrounded by the sands of the desert.

Hundreds of years lure guests in with the stays of breathtaking monuments, a rugged shoreline teeming with coral life, and a tradition that has advanced over millennia. We knew it was time to journey to this Northern African nation to see if the magic nonetheless existed.

Egypt is the reward of the Nile, so there isn’t a higher approach to discover than a cruise down the river. Discovering a ship extra becoming for a cruise than SS Sudan is hard. It’s the solely steamship that also sails the Nile and has performed host to Agatha Christie and the King of Egypt. The picket steamer dates again over a century and can transport you again in time to the traditional wonders of Edfu, Dendara, and The Valley of The Kings. 

The Steam Ship Sudan nonetheless ferries company backwards and forwards from Luxor to Aswan. It’s a magical journey and considered one of our favorites in years. Watch the video under or learn on to see what touring on the Steam Ship Sudan is all about.

Cruise the Nile River on the SS Steam Ship Sudan

I can’t fairly bear in mind what introduced me to the Steam Ship Sudan web site. All the time searching for one thing distinctive, I’m sure it was a Google search that went one thing like this, “Distinctive methods to cruise the Nile River.”

As quickly as I noticed pictures of the Steam Ship Sudan, I knew it was the ship we’d expertise Egypt on.

This ship is over 100 years outdated, and between 1922 and 1935, it loved the “golden age” of Nile River cruising. In 1933, Agatha Christie launched into an archaeological mission and was impressed to jot down Dying on the Nile, with individuals she met on the cruise turning into real-life characters within the e book.

When the Second World Struggle began, the SS Sudan was docked for over 50 years. Between 2000 and 2011, Unique Journey utterly modernized and renovated it, providing luxurious crusing journeys up and down the Nile.

Now it sits as one of many final reminders of the golden period in Egypt. It’s simply essentially the most lovely ship on the Nile and solely battles just a few for essentially the most luxurious Nile river cruise title.

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Steam Ship Sudan Nile River Cruise Itinerary

Most Nile River cruises begin in Luxor and cruise to Aswan or vice versa. We had no choice, however as a result of ship’s scheduling, we boarded in Luxor and cruised for six nights/5 days to Aswan. Alongside the way in which, we stopped at many well-known historical Egyptian websites.

Day-after-day was full of one thing new and distinctive. Abdul, our English-speaking information joined us every day to share tales about Historical Egyptian life. All itineraries will go one thing like this.

Board Ship in Luxor

Passengers start to board the Steam Ship Sudan from 10 am onward. Lunch is served on board, after which it’s time to discover the well-known Karnak Temple. This is without doubt one of the most well-known sacred websites on the planet!

Karnak is a big web site and begins any Egypt journey off with a bang. You’ll have just a few hours to discover Karnak Temple earlier than returning to the Steam Ship Sudan and crusing to Qena. This was our first time actually crusing the Nile and admiring the banks of the Nile River with the solar setting.

Discover Abydos and Dendara

As soon as in Qena, we awakened nicely earlier than dawn to go to Abydos. Abydos is a two-hour drive from the port and one of many less-visited websites in Egypt. We would have liked police escorts for at the present time, as it’s off the crushed path.

Abydos is a holy metropolis; it was a pilgrimage web site and is without doubt one of the oldest Historical Egyptian websites. From a spiritual standpoint, Abydos is the principal place of worship of Osiris, the most well-liked of the funerary gods. Guests want a very good three hours to discover right here.

On the way in which again, we stopped on the Temple of Dendara. Dendara is the spot of the temple of Hathor, Goddess of Love and Pleasure. It stays my favourite cease on our complete Egyptian journey.

It’s not on the well-visited path both and is actually totally different than some other historical Egyptian web site we visited. Nice for all our girl readers to take pleasure in because it’s just about all about womanly love.

Valley of the Kings and Queens/ Luxor Temple

One other early morning begin introduced us to the Valley of the Kings. Close to Luxor, this can be a valley in Egypt the place tombs had been excavated between the sixteenth to eleventh century BC for the pharaohs and different nobles.

Close by is the Valley of the Queens, the place the wives of pharaohs had been buried in historical occasions. Probably the most well-known and costliest web site to go to right here is the Tomb of Queen Nefertari. It’s inside this tomb that the hieroglyphics and work come alive.

The descriptions are essentially the most lovely and colourful we noticed in all of Egypt. Customer time contained in the tomb is proscribed, and no cameras are allowed (moreover telephones). I’d extremely advocate paying the worth to see this tomb, however it’s included within the Steam Ship Sudan cruise tour. A nice shock!

The day isn’t over fairly but as you’ll now head again to Luxor to see Luxor Temple earlier than lunch and luxuriate in a night on board.

Temple of Edfu and Kom Ombo

One of the vital preserved historical buildings in Historical Egypt is the Temple of Edfu, situated within the trendy metropolis of Edfu. A part of this temple is devoted to Horus and Hathor.

I beloved attending to this cease early with the ship as we had been the primary to reach and have the location all to ourselves. After the Temple of Edfu, we lastly had some free time to benefit from the ship’s magnificence and utterly chill out.

As we continued our journey to Aswan, we stopped off at yet another temple on the way in which. Kom Ombo is devoted to the Falcon God and Crocodile God. We had been capable of enterprise into this temple at night time and even see mummified crocodiles!

Temple of Philae

Our final full day noticed us crusing to Aswan. After having fun with the morning on board the SS Sudan, we docked in Aswan to discover the Temple of Philae. Dwelling to Isis, the Goddess of marriage and fertility, motherhood, and magic, that is simply considered one of Egypt’s most essential and most visited temples.

Aswan and the Previous Cataract Resort

Sadly, the time had come once we needed to depart the SS Sudan. We had been transferred by Felucca to the Previous Cataract Resort in order that we may take pleasure in and discover Aswan. The SS Sudan works along with the Sofitel Previous Cataract, and nearly half the passengers on board the SS Sudan continued to the Previous Cataract for just a few days.

The Previous Cataract is essentially the most iconic resort in all of Egypt. It’s over 100 years outdated and has had many notable company, together with Tsar Nicholas II, Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, Jimmy Carter, Princess Diana, and Agatha Christie. It’s a dreamy place to remain and the proper spot to start out or finish your Nile River Cruise.

Word that this itinerary is typically reversed because the cruise sails each from Aswan to Luxor and Luxor to Aswan.

The Steam Ship Sudan Inside

The SS Sudan has 5 suites and 18 cabins. We stayed within the lovely Aida suite within the stern. The suites are luxurious and supply unparalleled views of the Nile.

On the SS Sudan, additionally, you will discover a phenomenal eating room and Nineteen Thirties-style bar. That is additionally the place you will see that restricted WiFi. On the ship’s high are one other bar, loungers, and an all-around rest level. It’s the proper spot for studying a e book and watching the sundown on the Nile.

The SS Sudan Workers

Most, if not all, of the employees on board the SS Sudan are Egyptian. They’re all pretty and exit of their approach to make your keep on board extra comfy.

With out them, the ship wouldn’t even be half as enjoyable. Don’t overlook to ask the captain or engine guys to point out you the absolutely operational engine room down under deck!

Amir, the ship’s supervisor, speaks wonderful English, French, and Arabic and is the proper smiling face to the Sudan as an entire. Thanks!

Onshore guides are primarily freelancers employed out by the SS Sudan many occasions. They’re all amongst among the finest within the enterprise. The passengers on our cruise had been divided between English and French audio system, and every group had its personal information. Nonetheless, should you converse one other language, allow them to know throughout the reserving as they’ve guides for all languages.

Abdul, our English-speaking Nubian information, was wonderful and offered enthusiasm and data that stored our group excited always!

Ought to You Cruise the Nile on the Steam Ship Sudan?

We adjusted our complete Egyptian itinerary to make a Nile River Cruise on the Steam Ship Sudan occur and weren’t upset. We had been in search of one thing completely distinctive, totally different, and delightful to make this iconic journey and located it with the SS Sudan and her crew.

If you wish to see Egypt and are keen on cruising the Nile, I wouldn’t hesitate to e book a visit on the Steam Ship Sudan for a second. To at the present time it stays as a spotlight of all our travels (and we’ve traveled to seven continents and 90 nations!) Right here is to a different 100 years with this steamer on the Nile!

Plan and Pack for a Nile River Cruise

Are you planning a visit to Egypt and questioning what to put on? We simply returned from a incredible month within the nation and beloved each second of our time. Nonetheless, the Egyptian costume code can get complicated. In any case, it’s a scorching desert nation, however it’s additionally a conservative, predominately Muslim nation.